TRE 17: Refining the Model

TRE 17: Refining the Model

From Passive House Podcast by Matthew Cutler-Welsh, Zack Semke, Mary James, and Ilka Cassidy

June 12, 2026 · 43 min · Season 1 · Episode 17

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of teamwork and precision in Passive House design and construction, featuring insights from various experts.

Passive House design and construction is a team sport. It requires effective strategies and cooperation, but also precision in the field and the ability to tweak and recalibrate systems once the building is complete. A robust envelope may be the superpower of Passive House construction, allowing for downsized mechanical systems, electrification, and reduced stress on the energy grid, but these benefits are only achieved if everything works as intended. In this episode, host Zack Semke shares selected clips of conversations from the Reimagine Collective. Featured speakers include Carmel Pratt of ZAZNRG and Passive House New York on post-occupancy data, Ed May of bldgtyp on modeling literacy, Skyler Swinford of Energy Systems Consulting with Lloyd Alter of Toronto Metropolitan University on refrigerants and water-based distribution, James Peterson of Petersen Engineering on heat pump water heaters, and Nick Nigro of Leggett McCall on what's next at the innovative and enormous Bunker Hill housing redevelopment project. The Reimagine Edit is a special series of the Passive House Podcast that shares curated insights from our Experts-In-Residence at the Reimagine Buildings Collective…

People in this episode

Host: Zack Semke

Guests: Carmel Pratt, Ed May, Skyler Swinford, Lloyd Alter, James Peterson, Nick Nigro

Topics covered

  • Passive House design
  • construction strategies
  • post-occupancy data
  • modeling literacy
  • refrigerants
  • heat pump water heaters
  • housing redevelopment

Keywords

  • Passive House
  • teamwork
  • construction
  • energy efficiency
  • mechanical systems
  • climate change
  • Bunker Hill redevelopment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ZAZNRG, Passive House New York, bldgtyp, Toronto Metropolitan University, Petersen Engineering, Leggett McCall

Places: Bunker Hill

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